IP Library Granted Patent US 9,967,511
Granted Patent B2
US 9,967,511 · App. 15/031,347 · Granted May 8, 2018

Through PCB hole cable lead dress conduit

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,967,511
App. No.
15/031,347
Granted
May 8, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Devices and methods for routing cables through a printed circuit board (PCB) include an enclosure having at least one cable guide and a cable duct. A PCB is mounted in the enclosure, such that the cable duct penetrates the PCB through a hole in the PCB. At least one additional component is mounted in the enclosure and connected to at least one cable that is attached to the at least one cable guide and the cable duct. The at least one cable enters the duct on a first side of the PCB and exits the duct on a second side of the PCB.

Claims (33)

1. A device, comprising:

an enclosure comprising at least one cable guide and a cable duct;

a printed circuit board (PCB) mounted in the enclosure, such that the cable duct penetrates the PCB through a hole in the PCB;

at least one additional component mounted in the enclosure; and

at least one cable that is connected to the at least one additional component and is attached to the at least one cable guide and the cable duct, wherein the cable duct comprises one or more notches that provide access to a duct interior space for the at least one cable, wherein said at least one cable enters the cable duct on a first side of the PCB and exits the cable duct on a second side of the PCB.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the notches have a tapering width that tapers to a width smaller than a width of the at least one cable.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cable is held in the one or more notches by friction.

4. The device of claim 1 , the at least one additional component comprises an antenna.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the cable is attached to the cable guides using one of glue and hook-and-loop fasters.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cable is attached to at least one second component on or over the second side of the PCB.

7. A set top box, comprising:

an enclosure comprising at least one cable guide and a cable duct, wherein the cable duct comprises one or more notches that provide access to a duct interior space;

a printed circuit board (PCB) mounted in the enclosure, such that the cable duct penetrates the PCB through a hole in the PCB;

an antenna mounted in the enclosure; and

at least one cable that is connected to the antenna and is attached to the at least one cable guide and runs into the duct interior space, wherein said at least one cable enters the cable duct on a first side of the PCB and exits the cable duct on a second side of the PCB, and wherein the at least one cable is held in the one or more notches by friction.

8. The set top box of claim 7 , wherein the notches have a tapering width that tapers to a width smaller than a width of the at least one cable.

9. The set top box of claim 7 , wherein the cable is attached to the cable guides using one of glue and hook-and-loop fasters.

10. The set top box of claim 7 , wherein the at least one cable is attached to at least one second component on or over the second side of the PCB.

11. A method for assembling a device, comprising:

accessing an enclosure having at least one cable guide and at least one cable duct having at least one cable guide notch for at least one cable, the cable guide notch formed by notching the at least one cable duct at one or more locations along the at least one cable duct;

inserting the at least one cable into the at least one cable guide and the at least one cable guide notch;

providing at least one cable duct hole through a printed circuit board;

connecting a first end of the at least one cable to an electronic component;

inserting the printed circuit board into the device such that the at least one cable duct enters the at least one cable duct hole;

threading a second end of the at least one cable through the at least one cable duct; and

disposing the at least one cable, the at least on cable guide, the printed circuit board, the at least one cable duct and the electronic component within an enclosure.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the enclosure is ventilated.

13. The method of claim 11 , comprising the step of connecting the second end of the at least one cable to a second electronic component on or over the printed circuit board.

14. The method of claim 11 , comprising the step of populating said printed circuit board with a plurality of further electronic components enabling said device to operate as a set top box.

15. The method of claim 14 , comprising the step of enabling said set top box to be electrically powered.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the electronic component comprises an antenna.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein inserting the at least one cable into the at least one cable guide notch comprises folding or coiling part of the at least one cable with the at least one cable lead within an interior space of the at least one cable duct.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising connecting the second end of the at least one cable to a second electronic component on or over the printed circuit board, wherein the electronic component is not on the printed circuit board.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY NAME FROM INTERDIGITAL CE PATENT HOLDINGS TO INTERDIGITAL CE PATENT HOLDINGS, SAS. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 47332 FRAME: 511. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Feb 28, 2024
From: THOMSON LICENSING
To: INTERDIGITAL CE PATENT HOLDINGS, SAS
Reel/Frame 066703/0509 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 26, 2018
From: THOMSON LICENSING
To: INTERDIGITAL CE PATENT HOLDINGS
Reel/Frame 047332/0511 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 22, 2016
From: RITTER, DARIN BRADLEY; HUNT, MICKEY JAY
To: THOMSON LICENSING
Reel/Frame 038353/0075 →